Editing Colm Wilkinson (section)

== Life and career ==
After playing in several Irish bands which included The Action (not to be confused with an English band of the same name), in 1972, Wilkinson was cast as [[Judas Iscariot]] in the Dublin production of [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]''; he went on to reprise the role in London and on the British national tour.<ref name="bioOfficial">{{cite web |url=http://www.colmwilkinson.com/bio3.html |title=Biography |website=Colmwilkinson.com |access-date=2020-03-02 |archive-date=28 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428213341/http://www.colmwilkinson.com/bio3.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1976, Wilkinson sang the part of Che on the album for the musical ''[[Evita (musical)|Evita]]''.<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KI1R6S Listing] amazon.com, accessed 3 April 2009</ref> Instead of auditioning for the role when the production was launched in London, Wilkinson launched a solo career as a singer-songwriter.

Wilkinson also featured as [[Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (character)|Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde]] in the original ''[[Jekyll & Hyde (musical)|Jekyll and Hyde]]'' concept album.

By 1977, Wilkinson released his own [[eponymous]] album, in his childhood home in Ireland, where he was known as "C.T. Wilkinson". The album charted in the Irish Charts for eight weeks at Number 1.<ref name="maplemusic1">{{cite web|url=http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/wil/bio.asp|title=Colm Wilkinson|last=Maple Music Artist Biography|date=2000–2009|publisher=MapleMusic Ltd|access-date=11 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011012634/http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/wil/bio.asp|archive-date=11 October 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After his successful solo [[LP album|LP]], Wilkinson began to prepare actively for vocal competitions. This led to his eventual representation of Ireland in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] in 1978 with "[[Born to Sing (song)|Born to Sing]]", earning fifth place in the European competition for his efforts.<ref name=allbusiness>LeBlanc, Larry.[http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4648772-1.html "Wilkinson Returns To Pop/soul Roots"], Allbusiness.com, 21 December 2002</ref>

Wilkinson starred in ''Voices'', a musical based on the life and times of [[Joan of Arc]], which went on stage at the Olympia Dublin in 1984. The show's music and lyrics were written by Derry-based composer, Tommy "TC" Doherty, with the single "Child of Destiny" being released at the time and now available on [[iTunes]].

In 1985, he collaborated with [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]] once again, originating the role of [[Erik (Phantom of the Opera)|The Phantom]] in ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]'' at the [[Sydmonton Festival|Sydmonton workshop]].<ref name="interview">{{Cite interview |last=Wilkinson |first=Colm |interviewer=Robert Diamond |url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Interview_with_Colm_Wilkinson_20041216 |title=Interview with Colm Wilkinson |website=[[BroadwayWorld]] |date=16 December 2004 |language=en |access-date=3 April 2009 |archive-date=18 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118135928/http://broadwayworld.com/article/Interview_with_Colm_Wilkinson_20041216 |url-status=live }}</ref> Wilkinson was offered the role for the show's debut on the West End, but instead chose to play [[Jean Valjean]] in ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]''.

The London production of ''[[Les Miserables (musical)|Les Misérables]]'' opened in October 1985, and transferred to Broadway in March 1987. Originally, the American [[Actors' Equity Association]] refused to allow Wilkinson to play the part of Valjean in New York, due to its strict policy of hiring only American actors unless an actor outside America was an international star. At this, producer [[Cameron Mackintosh]] refused to open the show unless Wilkinson played Valjean, and Actors' Equity relented. Wilkinson took the lead role despite the temporary setback.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/the-illusionist/|title=Garth Drabinsky's fatal flaw|date=9 April 2009|work=Maclean's|publisher=Rogers Media|access-date=22 November 2014|archive-date=1 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701025206/https://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/the-illusionist/|url-status=live}}</ref> He won the [[Helen Hayes Award]], the [[Outer Critics Circle Award]], and the [[Theatre World Award]] for his performance; he was nominated for the [[Tony Award]] and [[Drama Desk Award]] for Best Actor in a Musical.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.colm-wilkinsononline.net/index2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060815041300/http://www.colm-wilkinsononline.net/index2.html|title=Colm Wilkinson Online|url-status=usurped|archive-date=15 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lesmis.com/pages/news/press_2_6_98.html |title=Les Misérables - Press - News About Colm Wilkinson |date=2 June 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121063917/http://www.lesmis.com/pages/news/press_2_6_98.html |archive-date=21 November 2008 |website=lesmis.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 1989, Wilkinson relocated his family to [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada, when he was offered the title role in the original Toronto production of ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]'' playing at the Pantages Theatre (now [[Ed Mirvish Theatre]]).<ref name=allbusiness /><ref name="bioOfficial"/> He has lived in Toronto ever since, and became a [[Canadians|Canadian]] citizen in the early 2000s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribute.ca/news/index.php/colm-wilkinson-talks-les-miserables/2013/03/21/ |title=Colm Wilkinson talks Les Miserables « Celebrity Gossip and Movie News |website=Tribute.ca |access-date=2020-03-02 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129112449/http://www.tribute.ca/news/index.php/colm-wilkinson-talks-les-miserables/2013/03/21/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1992, an arbitrator for [[Canadian Actors' Equity Association|Actor's Equity]] found that Wilkinson had used "excessive roughness" on his Phantom co-star [[Rebecca Caine]], based on her testimony and witness accounts that he had repeatedly hurt her onstage and once severely sprained her wrist, which had to be put in a brace, resulting in her dismissal from the show.<ref>{{cite news |last=Godfrey |first=Stephen |date=1992-12-12 |title=The case of the 'brutish' Phantom |newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]] |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&issn=03190714&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA163990299&sid=googleScholar&linkaccess=abs |access-date=2024-06-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Godfrey |first=Stephen |date=1992-12-12 |title=Testimony reveals details of deteriorating relationship |newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]] |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=mlin_oweb&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA163990450&retrievalId=b7353fae-c1ee-446e-99e8-7aa1ca19a4e1&inPS=true&linkSource=interlink&sid=bookmark-AONE |access-date=2024-06-18}}</ref> 

From August 1998 through January 1999, Wilkinson played Valjean once again, this time in Toronto at the Princess of Wales Theatre.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.playbill.com/article/colm-wilkinson-to-return-to-les-miz-in-toronto-in-july-1998-com-71560 |title= Colm Wilkinson To Return to Les Miz in Toronto in July 1998 |website= playbill.com |date= 25 September 1997 |access-date= 17 April 2020 |archive-date= 18 August 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200818095856/https://www.playbill.com/article/colm-wilkinson-to-return-to-les-miz-in-toronto-in-july-1998-com-71560 |url-status= live }}</ref> Not long afterwards, he returned to the role of Valjean in Dublin, Ireland at the Point Theatre between February, 1999 and May, 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.playbill.com/article/wilkinson-returns-to-les-mis-in-dublin-1999-com-73487 |title= Wilkinson Returns to Les Mis in Dublin, 1999 |website= playbill.com |date= 18 February 1999 |access-date= 17 April 2020 |archive-date= 18 August 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200818134415/https://www.playbill.com/article/wilkinson-returns-to-les-mis-in-dublin-1999-com-73487 |url-status= live }}</ref> From June, 2002 to July, 2002 he again reprised the role in Shanghai at the Shanghai Grand Theatre.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.playbill.com/article/one-day-more-colm-wilkinson-returns-to-les-miz-in-chinese-premiere-june-22-july-7-com-104584 |title= One Day More! Colm Wilkinson Returns to Les Miz in Chinese Premiere, June 22-July 7 |website= playbill.com |date= 20 March 2002 |access-date= 17 April 2020 |archive-date= 15 September 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200915092325/https://www.playbill.com/article/one-day-more-colm-wilkinson-returns-to-les-miz-in-chinese-premiere-june-22-july-7-com-104584 |url-status= live }}</ref>

In 1995, Wilkinson played [[Jean Valjean]] in the 10th Anniversary Concert of ''[[Les Miserables (musical)|Les Misérables]]'' at the Royal Albert Hall.<ref>[[Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert]]</ref>

In October–November 2007, Wilkinson undertook a cross-Canada concert tour, ''Broadway and Beyond'', along with Susan Gilmour and Gretha Boston.<ref>Gans, Andrew.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/108894.html "Wilkinson's Broadway & Beyond Concert Tour to Begin in October"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906201557/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/108894.html |date=6 September 2007 }}, Playbill.com, 18 June 2007</ref>

Wilkinson plays the part of [[Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Darcy|Lord Darcy]] in the third season showing of Showtime's miniseries ''[[The Tudors]]'' which began airing on 12 April 2009.<ref>[http://movies.broadwayworld.com/article/Colm_Wilkinson_Stars_on_THE_TUDORS_412_20090411 Colm Wilkinson Stars on 'THE TUDORS' 4/12] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708094946/http://movies.broadwayworld.com/article/Colm_Wilkinson_Stars_on_THE_TUDORS_412_20090411 |date=8 July 2011 }}, Broadwayworld.com, 11 April 2009</ref>

He participated in [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[Ted Kennedy]]'s birthday celebration at the [[Kennedy Center]] in Washington, D.C., on 8 March 2009. The highlight of the evening was when [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] arrived on the stage and together with all the performers sang "Happy Birthday" to Ted Kennedy.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/09/politics/washingtonpost/main4853643.shtml | title=Inside Ted Kennedy's Birthday Gala | work=CBS News | date=9 March 2009 | access-date=31 July 2010 | archive-date=12 March 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312003505/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/09/politics/washingtonpost/main4853643.shtml | url-status=dead }}</ref> Wilkinson also was asked to perform at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library at the Memorial Service for Senator Kennedy on 28 August 2009, the evening before the Senator's funeral.

On 24 May 2009, Wilkinson performed in the [[National Memorial Day Concert]] at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., in front of a large audience and screened live across America on PBS.<ref>[http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=showEvent&event=NJMEM National Symphony Orchestra: National Memorial Day Concert] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613051505/http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=showEvent&event=NJMEM |date=13 June 2011 }} kennedy-center.org, accessed 31 July 2010</ref>

A solo album was released in January 2010 titled ''Broadway and Beyond: The Concert Songs''. It covers all of the songs that Wilkinson performed on his cross-Canada tour in 2007. His previous album was released in 2002, titled "Some of My Best Friends Are Songs". In it, he and his son Aaron cover the [[Cat Stevens]] song, "[[Father and Son (song)|Father and Son]]", as a duet. The album is a mix of show tunes, Wilkinson's personal favorites, and several songs from his stage productions. His support of [[PBS]] and listener-supported television in North America, following his participation in the tenth anniversary of the production of ''Les Misérables'', brought him an hour-long program on which he performed songs including some selections from the album and a rendition of "Gethsemane", from ''Jesus Christ Superstar'', a song that he admitted having hoped to perform for 23 years.<ref name="interview" /> His supporting television broadcast, ''Stage Heroes: Colm Wilkinson'', aired on the heels of ''Les Misérables'', brought positive reviews from fans and critic.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

On 3 October 2010, Wilkinson was a special guest at the 25th Anniversary Concerts of [[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]], at the [[The O2 Arena (London)|O2 Arena]], alongside many other original cast members.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/29814/original-les-miserables-cast-join-25th |first=Matthew |last=Hemley |title=Original Les Miserables cast join 25th anniversary celebrations at the O2 |newspaper=[[The Stage]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013135355/http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/29814/original-les-miserables-cast-join-25th  |archive-date=2011-10-13 |url-status=dead |access-date=2020-09-07}}</ref> He performed as part of a "Valjean Quartet"; alongside [[Alfie Boe]], [[John Owen-Jones]] and [[Simon Bowman]] (each of whom had previously played the role of [[Jean Valjean]] in various productions of ''Les Misérables''). This was recorded as a single (released in the U.K.) and performed live at the [[London Palladium]]; during the [[Royal Variety Performance]] on 16 December 2010.

A year later, on 1 and 2 October 2011, he appeared – alongside a number of former Phantoms – at the 25th Anniversary Celebration of [[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]], at [[The Royal Albert Hall]].<ref name=maskless/>

He is a Founding Artist of Theatre 20, a musical theatre company in Toronto formed by artists in 2009, and performed in Theatre 20's 2011 Concert Series at the [[Panasonic Theatre]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|title=Colm Wilkinson, Louise Pitre and New Musical Amelia Will Be Heard in Toronto Concert Series|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/149764-Colm-Wilkinson-Louise-Pitre-and-New-Musical-Amelia-Will-Be-Heard-in-Toronto-Concert-Series|access-date=9 August 2011|newspaper=Playbill|date=12 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021233651/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/149764-Colm-Wilkinson-Louise-Pitre-and-New-Musical-Amelia-Will-Be-Heard-in-Toronto-Concert-Series|archive-date=21 October 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/toronto-artists-start-new-musical-theatre-company-1.1011874 |title=Toronto artists start new musical theatre company |publisher=[[CBC News]] |date=2011-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110044432/http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/theatre/story/2011/01/21/theatre-20-toronto.html |archive-date=2012-11-10 |url-status=live |access-date=2020-09-07}}</ref> Other Founding Artists include Susan Gilmour, [[Louise Pitre]], [[Ma-Anne Dionisio]], Tamara Bernier Evans and Adam Brazier.

Wilkinson appeared as the [[Bishop Myriel|Bishop of Digne]] in the 2012 film production of ''[[Les Misérables (2012 film)|Les Misérables]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-xpm-2012-dec-31-la-et-cm-colm-wilkinson-original-jean-valjean-on-les-miserables-movie-20121230-story.html |title= Colm Wilkinson, original Jean Valjean, on Les Miserables movie |newspaper= LA Times |date= 31 December 2012 |access-date= 16 April 2020 |archive-date= 28 July 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200728165029/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-xpm-2012-dec-31-la-et-cm-colm-wilkinson-original-jean-valjean-on-les-miserables-movie-20121230-story.html |url-status= live }}</ref> He reprised this role in a performance of the musical in Toronto in January 2014 where [[Ramin Karimloo]] played Valjean.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2014/01/03/colm_wilkinson_talks_about_jan_11_return_to_les_miz.html |title= Colm Wilkinson talks about Jan. 11 return to Les Miz |website= The Star |date= 3 January 2014 |access-date= 16 April 2020 |archive-date= 29 July 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200729060705/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2014/01/03/colm_wilkinson_talks_about_jan_11_return_to_les_miz.html |url-status= live }}</ref>

Wilkinson was voted one of the five greatest singers ever in a ''[[Rolling Stone Magazine]]'' readers' poll and is noted for maintaining a powerful singing voice into his late 60s. He has attributed his longevity to avoiding coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, and dairy products, as well as ensuring proper sleep, diet, and exercise. He is also noted as being rather soft-spoken in order to refrain from overworking his voice.<ref name="Colm Wilkinson" />